Population Health Leadership

The MSc in Population Health Leadership from the RCSI School of Population Health aims to equip leaders in this space with the broad knowledge to speak to the wide variety of components affecting the health of populations, whilst providing them with the leadership skills to implement change.



Develop a broad comprehension of population health science and leadership and the ability to leverage critical understanding, decision-making and applied actions to inform policy, systems design and practices for positive population health outcomes.



Integral to the education planned is the appraisal, synthesis and application of core population health principles, methods, and applied leadership skills as set out in the WHO-ASPHER Core Competency Framework for the Public Health Workforce.



The MSc is part-time, delivered in a digital format over two years via our online teaching platform, making it accessible to busy professionals, wherever they may be working. This programme has early exit and award options. See progression section for details.



Synchronous 'live' online content for the MSc Population Health Leadership will be delivered weekly online on Thursdays between 2.30-4.30pm; you should ensure your availability on this day.



This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications



Suitable for

This programme is ideal for healthcare professionals including: doctors, managers, nurses, allied health professionals, interdisciplinary health and social care workers, clinical specialists, and administrators. It is also relevant for those in medical supplies, the pharmaceutical sector, and healthcare regulation.

What you will learn



Module 1

Optimising Population Health Leadership: Understanding, Deciding, Acting

Introduction to the understand-decide-act framework, population-health strategies, scientific guidance, and effective implementation



Module 2

Exploring Approaches to Research and Data for Population Health

Skills to design, interpret, and communicate population health research using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods



Module 3

Fundamentals of Public Health

Global health challenges and evidence-based decision-making



Module 4

Applying Psychology and Behavioural Sciences to Population Health

Evaluating evidence for designing and assessing effective individual and population health interventions



Module 5

Leadership, Governance and Policy in Population Health Ecosystems

Holistic understanding of population health, focusing on systems, leadership, and connecting organisational drivers for health generation



Module 6

Implementing Population Health – Translating Evidence and Outcomes

Challenges in implementing evidence-based health policies, integrating implementation sciences, economics, and community engagement



Module 7

Assessing Health Needs and Prioritising Resources

Conducting health needs assessments considering social determinants and make resource allocation decisions to meet public health needs



Module 8

Decision-making for Population Health

Frameworks to integrate scientific disciplines and evidence for prioritising resource allocation and action in population health



Module 9

Population Health in Action

Cultivate ethical awareness, synthesise evidence, and develop strategies for effective communication and implementation in population health



Module 10

Applied Research Project

Conduct evidence synthesis or execute projects related to population health, following protocols from Module 9 with ethical approval

To be eligible for the programme you must:



Hold a bachelor degree. If you don’t hold a bachelor degree, please see the recognition of prior learning pathway.



Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirements above, you may still be eligible to apply through recognition of prior learning (RPL). RPL is the assessment of knowledge, skills and competence previously acquired.



Learning occurs in many contexts which include work, involvement in social and community activities, or learning through life experience generally. RPL does not give credit for experience as such; rather it considers the learning that was acquired as a result of the experience.



RPL may be used to gain:



Admission to courses/programmes where a person may not have obtained the standard entry requirements.

Exemptions from course modules which duplicate the learning outcomes an individual has already demonstrably acquired through prior learning.



English language requirement exceptions

You must meet the English language requirements (unless exempt): IELTS score of 6.5, Duolingo 105-110, or equivalent score on another standardised test. Please see below for list of exemptions.



Exemptions may apply for:



If you have completed your school or undergraduate studies (three or more years) through English in a country where English is the majority native language



If you have completed their school or undergraduate studies (three or more years) in an English speaking institution in a country where English is not the majority native language and where an IELTS score of 5 or more was a requirement for admissions to the programme



If you have been working in a country (three years or more) where English is the majority native language or for an employer where English language is the official language



Graduates of an RCSI Undergraduate, Masters or Professional Diploma programme in Dublin and Bahrain



Please note: Certified proof must be uploaded as part of your application.

2 years



Mode of delivery

Online - Part-time

Next start date September 2025

Three taught, part-time Population Health Leadership (PHL) programmes are offered:



PgCert in Population Health Leadership

PgDip in Population Health Leadership

MSc in Population Health Leadership



The curriculum builds cumulatively in three stages of development and leadership training, through which students can progress from a Level 9 Postgraduate Certificate in PHL (30 ECTS) that establishes the foundations, scope, rationale and intervention routes of population health leadership, to a Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in PHL (60 ECTS) that builds specialist skills in population health science and intervention.



Finally, an MSc in PHL award is achieved through production of a structured applied project to include literature review, policy relevance statement, evidence of project implementation, outcomes evaluation, discussion and reflection.



Postgraduate certificate and postgraduate diploma awards can be completed without further progression.